NCSA expands drug awareness programme

After completing a recent survey on drug and alcohol use among young persons within the nation’s schools, the National Council on Substance Abuse (NCSA) has taken steps to expand its educational and informative programmes, in order to curb the high rates of drug use they have seen.

This word comes from the NCSA’s Deputy Manager Troy Wickham during his organisations walk through of the Constitution River Terminal on Wednesday.

Speaking to the press, Wickham said the NCSA recently launched its Community School Education on Drugs Programme, which sees members of the organization taking drug facts to students throughout Barbados, giving them the relevant information they need to avoid, and encourage others to avoid drug use.

“We are here in the Constitution River Terminal to distribute information about drugs to teenagers.

“Our recently concluded Primary School Survey indicated to us that young persons are still using traditional drugs such as marijuana and alcohol, and the main source is the family and friends.

“We found it important in coming here today, to share information, the truth about drugs, with pamphlets. Our program officers are present here today basically to assist in this initiative which will run for the next four weeks. We are taking it right down to the middle of December [when] we will be going to various schools,” he said.

When asked about the response he and his team have received from students about the information shared, Wickham said the young students were very interested. “The young [students] I’ve spoken to thus far were very engaged. They are very happy that we are down here to share the drug information
to their peers,” he revealed. (SB)